Health sector involvement in chemicals management: implementation of the WHO Chemicals Road Map at a national level (2020)

Meeting report.

Minsk, Belarus 11-12 February 2020

The WHO Road map to enhance health sector engagement in the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management towards the 2020 goal and beyond, known as the WHO Chemicals Road Map, was approved by the World Health Assembly in 2017. An accompanying workbook was also developed to support Member States’ implementation efforts. The subregional meeting on 11– 12 February 2020 in Minsk, Belarus, aimed to assist central and eastern European countries in prioritizing actions to enhance the management of hazardous chemicals at a national level, and in planning activities to implement them. Examples of good practices, successful experiences and supportive documents needed to plan actions were presented to guide the identification of priority actions both at the meeting and during the development of national implementation plans. Key institutional elements to ensure stronger health sector involvement in chemicals management were also discussed to facilitate national activities.